Handheld electronic device having facilitated input and associated method

ABSTRACT

An improved handheld electronic device and an improved method facilitate the entry of data when the data is provided in a predetermined data format. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the handheld electronic device includes a user interface that facilitates the entry of data having a predetermined data format.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser.No. 12/266,952 entitled “Handheld Electronic Device Having FacilitatedInput and Associated Method, which was filed on Nov. 7, 2008, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/553,255, now U.S. Pat. No.7,456,822 issued Nov. 25, 2008, entitled “Handheld Electronic DeviceHaving Facilitated Input and Associated Method,” which was filed on Oct.26, 2006, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/785,134,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,145,553 issued Dec. 5, 2006, entitled “HandheldElectronic Device Having Facilitated Input and Associated Method.”

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to handheldelectronic devices and, more particularly, to a handheld electronicdevice having facilitated data input. The disclosed and claimed conceptalso relates to a method for facilitating input to a handheld electronicdevice.

2. Background Information

Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples ofsuch handheld electronic devices include, for instance, personal dataassistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellulartelephones, and the like. Many handheld electronic devices also featurewireless communication capability, although many such handheldelectronic devices are stand-alone devices that are functional withoutcommunication with other devices.

Such handheld electronic devices are generally intended to be portable,and thus are of a relatively compact configuration in which keys andother input structures often perform multiple functions under certainconditions. For instance, a given key, when pressed, may input a lowercase letter, and additionally may input a capital letter when combinedwith a <SHIFT> key, and further may input a digit or a symbol whencombined with an <ALT> key. While such key configurations have beengenerally effective for their intended purposes, such key configurationshave not, however, been without limitation.

Certain data entry applications require the input to be in the form of aspecific combination of numeric and/or alphabetic characters in a givenarrangement. For instance, if the data field requires a certainarrangement of digits and capital letters, a user must combine keyentries with appropriate <ALT> and <SHIFT> keys, which can becomecumbersome. As an example, a Canadian postal code is required to be inthe form of six alternating alphabetic (A) and numeric (N) characters,with a space between the third and fourth characters, thus ANA NAN. AnAmerican zip code is required to be in a form having either five numericcharacters, thus NNNNN, or must include the five numeric characters plusan additional four numeric characters separated by a hyphen from theaforementioned five numeric characters, thus NNNNN-NNNN.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the disclosed and claimed concept can be gainedfrom the following Description of the Preferred Embodiment when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an improved handheld electronic device inaccordance with the disclosed and claimed concept;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a routine of a processor of the handheldelectronic device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a first view of a portion of a display of the handheldelectronic device of FIG. 1 during a portion of a data entry operationaccording to the routine of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 3B-3F are other views of portions of the display of the handheldelectronic device of FIG. 1 during other portions of the data entryoperation according to the routine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the handheld electronic device of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a flowchart of a routine of a processorof the handheld electronic device of FIG. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DESCRIPTION

An improved handheld electronic device 4 in accordance with thedisclosed and claimed concept is depicted generally in FIGS. 1 and 4.The exemplary handheld electronic device 4 includes a display 8, akeyboard 12 having a plurality of keys 16, and a processor 20 which maybe, without limitation, a microprocessor (μP), and is responsive toinputs from the keyboard 12 and provides output signals to the display8. As used herein, the expression “key” and variations thereof shallrefer broadly to any of a variety of input members such as buttons,switches, and the like without limitation. Examples of handheldelectronic devices are included in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,452,588 and6,489,950, which are incorporated by reference herein.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, most of the keys 16 include a number ofcharacters 24 thereon. As used herein, the expression “a number of” andvariations thereof shall refer broadly to any non-zero quantity,including a quantity of one. The characters 24 of many of the keysinclude an alphabetic character 28, such as a letter, and a numericcharacter 32, such as a digit. The numeric characters 32 in this examplewould also include punctuation marks and other symbols typical of akeyboard.

The keyboard 12 in this example additionally includes an <ALT> key 36and a <SHIFT> key 40 that may or may not additionally include one ormore characters 24. The <ALT> key 36 and the <SHIFT> key 40 can becombined with the keys 16 to provide the keys 16 with multiplefunctions. For example, and without limitation, if one of the keys 16 ispressed, it might provide an input to the processor 20 that representsthe alphabetic character 28 in lower case. If the same key 16 iscombined with the <SHIFT> key 40, such as if one first presses the<SHIFT> key 40, and then presses the key 16, then the result will be thesame alphabetic character 28, except in upper case, i.e., as a capitalletter. If the <ALT> key 36 is combined with the same key 16, then theresult is the numeric character 32.

The processor 20 also includes memory 44 that can be any of a variety oftypes of internal and/or external storage media such as, withoutlimitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), and the like, that provide astorage register for data storage such as in the fashion of an internalstorage area of a computer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatilememory. The memory 44 further includes a number of routines 48 for theprocessing of data. The routines 48 can be in any of a variety of formssuch as, without limitation, software, firmware, and the like. As willbe described in greater detail below, the routines 48 include aplurality of data formats that can be selectively initiated in order toprocess input data from the keyboard 12 and to provide specificallyformatted output to the display 8 and/or the memory 44. In the exemplarydepicted embodiment, the routines 48 are selectable by the processor 20to process data input from the keyboard 12 according to a specific dataformat that corresponds with other previously-entered data.

Specifically, the routines 48 are selected according to entered dataidentifying a country, or identifying a sub-country designation, i.e., aprovince, a state, a geographic region, or other location within acountry that identifies the country. The selected corresponding routine48 provides a selected corresponding data format that processesadditional input data to provide a processed output that conforms to thespecific format of a postal code, a zip code, or other identifying codeparticular to the identified country. In the particular embodiment, thecountry data can either be the name of the country spelled out or anappropriate abbreviation of the country. The expression “sub-country”and variations thereof shall refer broadly to any of a province, astate, a geographic region, or any other particular area or locationthat exists within a given country and that may help to identify thelocation within the country and/or the country.

Exemplary depictions of portions of the display 8 during portions of anexemplary data entry operation in accordance with the improved method ofthe disclosed and claimed concept are provided in FIGS. 3A-3F. Theexemplary FIGS. 3A-3F generally depict portions of an exemplary dataentry process within an address entry and storage application. The dataentry on the handheld electronic device 4 includes a plurality of dataelements. While the exemplary identified use of the method of thedisclosed and claimed concept is in the context of address entry andstorage within the handheld electronic device 4, it is understood thatthe teachings presented herein could be applied to other areas of anaddress application and/or to other applications. The exemplary portionsof the display 8 depicted in FIGS. 3A-3F include a sub-country datafield 52 identified in the exemplary figures as having the heading“Province/State:” next to a blank line which represents the sub-countrydata field 52. The display 8 additionally includes a country data field56 and a postal code data field 60. The country data field 56 includesthe heading “Country:” next to a blank line that indicates the countrydata field 56, and the postal code data field 60 includes the heading“Postal/Zip Code:” next to a blank line that signifies the postal codedata field 60. A cursor 64 is depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C, 3E, and 3F, andindicates the data field into which data will be entered.

FIG. 3A depicts the sub-country data field 52, the country data field56, and the postal code data field 60 as being empty, with the cursor 64being located in the sub-country data field 52. It shall be understoodthat the expression “postal code” and variations thereof shall referbroadly to any type of designation, whether containing alphabetic (A)and/or numeric (N) characters in particular formats, regardless whetherthe data are otherwise referred to as “postal codes”, “zip codes”,“region codes”, or any other such designation. FIG. 3A depicts thehandheld electronic device 4 during the data entry operation in which afirst input, after processing, will result in a first data element inthe form of a particular sub-country designation, such as, withoutlimitation, a province or a state. It is understood that country datacould additionally or alternatively serve as a first data element.

Referring to FIG. 3B, if a first input is entered at the sub-countrydata field 52, such as would result in the first data element beingdisplayed as “ON” in the sub-country data field 52, and if the firstdata element can be used to identify a country, then the cursor 64 ismoved automatically to the postal code data field 60 for entry of apostal code in the format of the identified country. In the specificexample given, the first input in FIG. 3B has been entered into thesub-country data field 52 and the resultant first data element is “ON”,which is an abbreviation for Ontario, which is a Canadian province.Canadian addresses are known to include a postal code in the form of sixalternating alphabetic and numeric characters, with a space dividing thethird and fourth characters, thus ANA<SPACE>NAN. The identification ofOntario identifies Canada as the country of the address, and acorresponding routine 48 is selected that will process a second datainput to provide a processed output in the form of a second data elementthat conforms to the aforementioned postal code format ANA<SPACE>NAN. InFIG. 3B, since the exemplary data input into the sub-country data field52 was successfully looked up to identify Ontario and Canada, and acorresponding data format was successfully selected and initiated, thecursor 64 has moved to the postal code data field 60 to allow input of apostal code. FIG. 3C depicts the entry of the postal code in the postalcode data field 60. The exemplary first character of the postal field is“R”, which conforms to the selected corresponding data format whichmandates that the first character of the postal code be alphabetic.

FIG. 3D depicts the postal code data field 60 as being filled, i.e.,having a complete entry that conforms to the selected corresponding dataformat ANA<SPACE>NAN. Since the field has been completed, the cursor 64has moved to a different field that is not depicted in FIG. 3D. It isnoted that the exemplary postal code in the postal code data field 60 ofFIG. 3D is “R2L 3W8”, which includes a <SPACE> between the “L” and “3”.The exemplary selected routine 48 automatically inserts a <SPACE>between the third and fourth characters (if the identified country isCanada), and inserts the single space after entry of the thirdcharacter, whether the next input is a <SPACE> or the fourth characterof the postal code.

FIG. 3E depicts an alternative mode of facilitating entry of the postalcode. Specifically, instead of entering data in the sub-country datafield 52, the first input has resulted in the first data element “CA”being entered into the country data field 56, and such data elementcorresponds with the country Canada. Since the input into the countrydata field 56 successfully identified a country, an appropriate routine48 has been selected (the same routine as described in relation to FIGS.3B-3D), and the cursor 64 has moved to the postal code data field 62 inorder to allow entry of the postal code. It is understood that thecountry data field 56 could also include other abbreviations or the fullname of the country “Canada” or other such country in order to providethe necessary first input to select the corresponding data format forthe postal code data field 60.

FIG. 3F depicts an additional feature of the handheld electronic device4 and the improved method. Specifically, if the cursor 64 has been movedto the postal code data field 60 without a first input having beenentered into either the sub-country data field 52 or the country datafield 56, the display 8 depicts a prompt to the user such as “<PleaseEnter Province/State or Country>” or other such prompt. Such a promptreminds the user to provide a first input that can be processed toobtain a first data element entered into either the sub-country datafield 52 or the country data field 56 for the purpose of identifying acountry, selecting a corresponding data format, and facilitating entryof data to fill the postal code data field 60. Upon providing theprompt, the user can either move the cursor 64 and provide sub-countryor country data, in which event processing will proceed as depictedgenerally in FIGS. 3A-3E, or the user can ignore the prompt and begin toenter data in the postal code data field 60, in which case the handheldelectronic device 4 will enter a manual mode in which keystrokes are notprocessed according to a selected corresponding data format.

A flowchart depicting a routine 48 performed by the processor 20 isprovided generally in FIG. 2. The method begins at 100, and theprocessor 20 interrogates at 104 the portions of the memory 44 thatcorrespond with the country data field 56 to determine whether a firstinput has been entered and processed to provide a first data elementthat has been entered into the country data field 56. If such first dataelement has been entered into the country data field 56, then the methodat 108 performs a look-up function in which the country data is comparedwith a plurality of data records in the memory 44 to determine if thecountry data is valid, meaning that the country data matches one of theaforementioned data records. In this event, the matching data element isidentified. The identified data record corresponds with a correspondingdata format in the form of one of the routines 48. Upon identificationof the identified data record, the particular corresponding data formatis selected, and the particular routine 48 is initiated at 112.

Thereafter, upon detection at 116 by the processor 20 of keystrokes of asecond input, the selected corresponding data format processes at 120each keystroke according to the data format. For instance, if theselected corresponding data format is that which corresponds with aCanadian postal code, which follows the format ANA<SPACE>NAN, then thefirst character of the second data element is alphabetic. If the key 16that is pressed is the key that includes both the letter R as thealphabetic character 28 and the digit 3 as the numeric character 32,according to the selected corresponding data format the processed keyoutput will be a (capital) R.

After processing the key input to provide the processed key output, theprocessed key output is then output to the display 8 and to the portionsof the memory 44 that correspond with the postal code data field 60. Theprocessor 20 then interrogates at 124 the portions of the memory 44 thatcorrespond with the postal code data field 60 to determine whether thepostal code data field 60 has been filled with processed data. If not,then the processor 20 again is enabled to detect input keystrokes at116. On the other hand, if it is determined that the postal code datafield 60 has been filled, then the cursor 64 is moved to another field,as at 128, for possible further data entry.

If at step 108 the country look-up was unsuccessful, then the methodinitiates a manual data entry operation 132. During such manualoperation 132, the processor 20 does not initiate or operate with aselected corresponding data format.

If at 104 the country data field 56 does not include a data entry, thenthe processor 20 examines the regions of the memory 44 that correspondwith the sub-country data field 52 to determine whether a first inputhas been entered and processed to provide a first data element in thesub-country data field 52. If so, then a look-up operation occurs at 140wherein the contents of the sub-country data field 52 are compared witha number of data records in the memory 44 to determine whether thecontents of the sub-country data field 52 can be used to identify acountry. In this regard, if any of such data records matches thecontents of the sub-country data field 52, then the data records isidentified and a country identifier that corresponds with the identifieddata records is also identified. The country identifier is thenprocessed as at 108 to determine whether the country identifier can besuccessfully looked up to select a corresponding data format. If so,then the routine 48 corresponding with the selected corresponding dataformat is initiated and processing continues as at 112.

In the event that the cursor 64 has been manually moved to the postalcode data field 60 and the contents of the sub-country data field 52 donot match any of the aforementioned data records, the processor 20 sendsa signal to the display 8 to provide a prompt such as “<Enter CountryName or Abbreviation>” or similar prompt, as at 144. Similarly, if thecursor 64 has been manually moved to the postal code data field 60 andno state or province data has been entered into the sub-country datafield 52, as at 136, then the processor 20 may provide a signal to thedisplay 8 to display a different prompt, such as “Enter Country orProvince/State Name or Abbreviation” or similar prompt, as at 148.

After the display either of the prompt at 144 or the prompt at 148, theprocessor 20 detects at 152 whether the cursor 64 has been moved out ofthe postal code data field 60 to a different data field. If it has, suchas if the cursor is moved to one of the sub-country data field 52 andthe country data field 56, then the user can enter data into suchfields, as at 156, after which processing can continue as at 104. If,however, the processor detects that the cursor 64 has not been movedfrom the postal code data field 60 and the data is being entered intothe postal code data field 60, then the processor will switch to amanual mode 160, which is similar to the manual mode 132.

A first example of the method of the disclosed and claimed concept isindicated generally in the following Table 1. In the indicated firstexample, the processor 20 has identified Canada as being the country ofthe address being entered, and the appropriate routine 48 for Canadianpostal codes has been initiated. As mentioned above, the particularformat of the Canadian postal code is ANA<SPACE>NAN. In the firstexample, the Canadian postal code that is desired to be entered is “R2L3W8”. Upon initiation of the appropriate routine 48, the keystrokes areas follows.

TABLE 1 INPUT ORDER KEY INPUT FORMAT OUTPUT 1 3R A R 2 2E N 2 3 @L A L(None) <SPACE> <SPACE> 4 3R N 3 5 1W A W 6 8X N 8

When the first key bearing the characters 24 “3R” is pressed, theselected corresponding data format processes such first key input toprovide a first processed key output, which will be alphabetic, andwhich represents the letter “R”. Next, upon pressing the key having thecharacters 24 “2E”, the processor processes such second key input toprovide a second processed key output, which will be numeric, and whichrepresents the digit “2”. Third, upon inputting the “@L” key, theprocessor outputs a third processed key output in alphabetic form andrepresentative of the letter “L”. Upon the fourth input of the key “3R”,the routine 48 outputs a <SPACE> followed by the digit 3. If a user hadactually entered a <SPACE>, the format 48 would still output only asingle space. Processing continues in the same fashion for the fifth andsixth key inputs which result in fifth and sixth processed key outputsof the letter “W” and the digit “8”, respectively. Once the processor 20determines that the postal code data field 60 has been filled, thecursor 64 is moved to a different data field for further data entry.

A second example is provided in the accompanying Table 2, below. In thesecond example, an American zip code is being input. As mentioned above,an American zip code can either include five numeric characters, thusNNNNN, or can additionally include another four numeric charactersseparated with a hyphen from the preceding five numeric characters, thusNNNNN-NNNN. In this second example, the method of the disclosed andclaimed concept has initiated at 112 the proper routine 48 thatcorresponds with an American zip code.

TABLE 2 INPUT ORDER KEY INPUT FORMAT OUTPUT 1 4S N 4 2 5D N 5 3 2E N 2 46F N 6 5 3R N 3 (Nothing) - (Hyphen) - (Hyphen) 6 2E N 2 7 9C N 9 8 7Z N7 9 8X N 8

If the first key input is a pressing of the key 16 having the alphabeticcharacter 28 of “S” and the numeric character 32 of “4”, then theprocessed key output that corresponds with such key input is “4”.Processing continues for entry of the second through the fifth keyinputs which are sequentially processed by the processor 20, andparticularly the selected corresponding data format, to provide the fouradditional processed key outputs to provide the exemplary second dataelement “45263”.

Upon the output of such five digits, the cursor 64 remains in the postalcode data field 60 since the postal code data field 60 has not beenfilled with the maximum nine digits. However, the cursor 64 can bemanually moved away from the postal code data field 60, which wouldcomplete entry of the American zip code in five-character form and wouldthen enable the user to enter data into other data fields.

On the other hand, if after providing the five processed key outputs,the user continues to provide key inputs, such as the sixth key input“2E”, then the selected corresponding data format will provide aprocessed key output which is in the form of a hyphen (-) followed bythe digit “2”. Even if the user had manually entered a hyphen, theprocessor still outputs only a single hyphen. Upon entry of seventh,eighth, and ninth key inputs, which sequentially result in seventh,eighth, and ninth numeric processed key outputs, respectively, theprocessor 20 detects that the postal code data field 60 has been filledand the cursor 64 is moved to a different data field.

It thus can be appreciated that the handheld electronic device 4 and themethod of the disclosed and claimed concept facilitate data entry byproviding a selected corresponding data format and by processing keyinputs in such a fashion to provide processed key outputs that conformto the selected corresponding data format. For instance, in the contextof the first example of Table 1, in the absence of the selectedcorresponding data format, a user, in order to enter the first character(capital) “R”, would need to press the “3R” key 16 in combination withthe <SHIFT> key 40. The next input of the digit “2” would require a userto press the “2E” key 16 in combination with the <ALT> key 36. All sixof the characters in a Canadian postal code would require the pressingof one of the keys 16 in combination with the <ALT> key 36 or the<SHIFT> key 40, and the <SPACE> would also need to be entered bymanually pressing an appropriate key. By employing the method of thedisclosed and claimed concept, which selects the corresponding dataformat, the Canadian postal code can be entered with fewer than half ofthe keystrokes that would be otherwise required in the absence of theselected corresponding data format. Similar benefits can be achieved fornearly every other type of postal code, zip code, or other sub-countrycode.

While specific embodiments of the disclosed and claimed concept havebeen described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that various modifications and alternatives to those details couldbe developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure.Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to beillustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed andclaimed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claimsappended and any and all equivalents thereof.

1. A method of enabling data entry into a handheld electronic device,said data entry including a plurality of data elements, said methodcomprising: providing a database having data records wherein each datarecord has a corresponding data format; detecting a first input that isa data record; comparing the input data record to the data recorddatabase to verify that the input data record corresponds to a datarecord in said database; automatically selecting the data format thatcorresponds to the data record; detecting a second input; and processingsaid detected second input according to said selected corresponding dataformat to obtain a second of said data elements, said second of saiddata elements conforming to said selected data format.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising obtaining said second of said data elementsincluding at least a first character, said at least a first characterbeing one of numeric and alphabetic according to said selected dataformat.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining saidsecond of said data elements including a plurality of characters, eachone of said characters being one of numeric and alphabetic according tosaid selected data format.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprisinginitiating a routine to process said detected second input according tosaid selected data format.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprisingdetecting a number of key inputs during said second input and processingeach one of said detected key inputs to obtain a number of processed keyoutputs conforming to said selected data format.
 6. The method of claim5 further comprising outputting each one of said processed key outputsto correspond with a corresponding one of said detected key inputs. 7.The method of claim 6 further comprising outputting at least one of saidprocessed key outputs that otherwise in the absence of said selectedcorresponding data format could be obtained from said corresponding oneof said detected key inputs in combination with another detected keyinput.
 8. The method of claim 6 further comprising outputting at leastone of said processed key outputs that otherwise, in the absence of saidselected data format, could represent a character that is one ofalphabetic and numeric and that could represent a character that is theother of said one of alphabetic and numeric when said corresponding oneof said detected key inputs is combined with one of a detected <ALT> keyinput and a detected <SHIFT> key input.
 9. The method of claim 8 furthercomprising outputting said at least one of said processed key outputs torepresent a character that is the other of said one of alphabetic andnumeric.
 10. The method of claim 6 further comprising: outputting as anumeric character at least one of said processed key outputs thatotherwise in the absence of said selected corresponding data formatcould represent a character that is alphabetic and that could representa character that is numeric when said corresponding one of said detectedkey inputs is combined with one of a detected <ALT> key input and adetected <SHIFT> key input; employing another one of said processed keyoutputs that corresponds with another corresponding one of said detectedkey inputs; and outputting as an alphabetic character said another oneof said processed key outputs that otherwise in the absence of saidselected corresponding data format could represent a character that isalphabetic and that could represent a character that is numeric whensaid another corresponding one of said detected key inputs is combinedwith one of a detected <ALT> key input and a detected <SHIFT> key input.11. A handheld electronic device structured to enable data entry, saiddata entry including a plurality of data elements, said handheldelectronic device comprising: a keyboard including a plurality of keys;a display; a processor including a memory, a database and a routine;said database having data records wherein each data record has acorresponding data format; said routine being adapted to respond toinput signals from said keys and to generate output signals to saiddisplay; said routine being adapted to detect a first input that is adata record; said routine being further adapted to compare the inputdata record to the data record database to verify that the input datarecord corresponds to a data record in said database; said routine beingfurther adapted to automatically select the data format corresponding tothe data record; said routine being adapted to generate a first of saidoutput signals to said display in response to detecting said firstinput; said routine being adapted to detect a second input from saidkeys; and responsive to said detected second input, said routine beingadapted to process said detected second input according to saidcorresponding data format to obtain a second of said data elements andto generate a second of said output signals to said display.
 12. Thehandheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein said routine is furtheradapted to generate said second of said output signals to represent aplurality of characters, each one of said characters being one ofnumeric and alphabetic according to said selected corresponding dataformat.
 13. The handheld electronic device of claim 11 wherein saidroutine is further adapted to detect a number of key inputs, to processeach one of said detected key inputs to obtain a number of processed keyoutputs that conform to said selected corresponding data format, and tooutput each one of said processed key outputs to correspond with acorresponding one of said detected key inputs.
 14. The handheldelectronic device of claim 13 wherein said routine is further adapted tooutput at least one of said processed key outputs that otherwise in theabsence of said selected corresponding data format could be obtainedfrom said corresponding one of said detected key inputs and anotherdetected key input.
 15. The handheld electronic device of claim 14wherein: said corresponding one of said detected key inputs represents acharacter that is one of alphabetic and numeric; wherein saidcorresponding one of said detected key inputs in combination with one ofa detected <ALT> key input and a detected <SHIFT> key input represents acharacter that is the other of said one of alphabetic and numeric; andwherein said routine is further adapted to output said at least one ofsaid processed key outputs to represent said character that is the otherof said one of alphabetic and numeric.
 16. A method of enabling dataentry into a handheld electronic device, said data entry including aplurality of data elements, said method comprising: providing a databasehaving data representing a plurality of geographic regions wherein eachgeographic region has a corresponding postal code format; detecting afirst input, said first input representing a geographic location;identifying a geographic region based on said first input; automaticallyselecting, based on said database, the postal code format correspondingto the geographic region; detecting a second input; and processing saiddetected second input according to said selected corresponding postalcode format to obtain a second of said data elements, said second ofsaid data elements conforming to said selected postal code format. 17.The method of claim 16 further comprising obtaining said second of saiddata elements including at least a first character, said at least afirst character being one of numeric and alphabetic according to saidselected postal code format.
 18. The method of claim 16 furthercomprising obtaining said second of said data elements including aplurality of characters, each one of said characters being one ofnumeric and alphabetic according to said selected postal code format.19. The method of claim 16 further comprising initiating a routine toprocess said detected second input according to said selected postalcode format.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of identifyingsaid geographic region includes identifying said geographic region asone of Canada and the United States if said first input is one ofrepresentation of a Canadian province and a representation of anAmerican state, respectively.